Kaptur Projected to Win Ohio 9th District Rematch Against Republican Derek Merrin

Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio won a rematch against Republican Derek Merrin in Ohio's 9th Congressional District, according to projections from CBS News and Decision Desk HQ. The win gives Kaptur a 23rd two-year term in the House and extends her record as the longest-serving woman in congressional history. She has held the northwestern Ohio seat since 1983.

The district was redrawn in October 2025, producing a more Republican-leaning seat. Merrin lost the 2024 matchup to Kaptur by about 2,400 votes, just above the threshold that would have triggered an automatic recount, and that race was not called until two weeks after the election. In early October, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents Louisiana, campaigned with Merrin and called the rematch a "top-five race" in the fight for House control for the rest of President Trump's second term.

Left-leaning coverage, represented by CBS News, leads with the projected result and spends most of its opening on the political backdrop: the October 2025 redistricting, the roughly 2,400-vote margin in 2024, the two-week wait for a call, and Johnson's campaign appearance with Merrin. It frames the race as part of the national contest for House control. The alternative outlet The Hill, in the excerpt available, leads instead with Kaptur's 23rd term and her record tenure, attributing the call to Decision Desk HQ and describing the contest as a tough rematch; it does not mention redistricting or Johnson in the excerpt. Both agree on the winner, the opponent and the district. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while the left-leaning and alternative outlets had, and those outlets focus on the result and Kaptur's history.